High mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) is an important positive regulator of hepatitis B virus (HBV) that is reciprocally upregulated by HBV X protein.

ABSTRACT: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Upon infection of hepatocytes, HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) exists as histone-bound mini-chromosome, subjected to transcriptional regulation similar to chromosomal DNA. Here we identify high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) protein as a positive regulator of HBV transcription that binds to a conserved ATTGG site within enhancer II/core promoter (EII/Cp) and recruits transcription factors FOXO3α and PGC1α. HMGA1-mediated upregulation of EII/Cp results in enhanced viral gene expression and genome replication. Notably, expression of endogenous HMGA1 was also demonstrated to be upregulated by HBV, which involves HBV X protein (HBx) interacting with SP1 transcription fa

SUBMITTER: Shen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8887475 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature